FAB! Awards Over $191,000 to Arts Organizations

Twenty-five arts projects have been brought to life for the 2014 - 2015 season, with help through a grant award from Funding Arts Broward (FAB!). That gives four new eligible FAB! grantees an opportunity through this resourceful funding pool. The new arts organizations added to the FAB! portfolio are: Brazilian Voices; Chameleon Musicians; Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida and the Pablo Malco Foundation. Highlights of the most recent 25 awards will give South Florida one more opportunity to see Alvin Ailey - Back in Broward at Broward Center for the Performing Arts; another exposure of Puccini's Madame Butterfly though Florida Grand Opera; and Seraphic Fire's Broward Spring Season. This, just to name a few attractions that Broward residents and visitors can count on thanks to smart arts supporters who collaborate, give and enhance our community. Thank you FAB! "This grant award has been fundamental in helping the Coral Springs community see an expanded arts and culture portfolio within its very diverse suburban community," says grantee, Executive Director, Coral Springs Museum of Art, Bryan Knicely.

In May, the Annual Meeting and Grant Awards Presentation was held at the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale; interested guests were invited to attend to explore FAB! memberships. In a very festive atmosphere, each of the FAB! grantees received their grant award and recognition from FAB! funding partners. "This luncheon is the highlight of the year for FAB! members," says Drazia Rubenstein, FAB! President. "It is a time to enjoy what FAB! is all about - celebrating awarding grants with a wonderful collection of generous friends that care about our community, and the importance of the arts in making it an even more beautiful place to live."

FAB! offers a grants program created through a sustainable funding pool supported by annual contributions by members - individual ($1000) and corporate ($3500). Every cent of the membership fee is distributed to the arts through grants. Since 2003 FAB! has awarded more than $2.1 million to eligible arts organizations. Members feel that money geared towards this particular type of community development has a direct economic impact, as well as an enhancement in personal quality of life, community value and arts education. It's an endeavor rich with reward. "Under the expert direction of grants chair, Diane Hardy, and vice chair, Susan Lochrie, one-third of our members were involved in the grant review process," says Rubenstein. "We are thrilled that we have new grantees this year and that the dollars we are awarding have increased from last year." FAB! members are an integral part of the grant process. They volunteer to review grant applications, conduct site visits and evaluate and recommend funding for specific projects. Grantees are then selected by a vote of the FAB! members.

Visual
Art and Culture Center of Hollywood - Jose Alvarez: As far as the I Can See
Coral Springs Museum of Art - Chautauqua 2015 Series of Visual and Performing Arts
Girl's Club Foundation - New Narratives: The Moment, The Backdrop and the Persona
NSU's Museum of Art - Fort Lauderdale- Haiti from Within & Without
Young at Art of Broward - 2015 YAA Artist Collaborative

FAB! grants are available to eligible arts organizations serving Broward County if the mission of the applicant organization is primarily artistic. "It's a very simple application process, that helps the grantee to move forward towards the goal, which in our case is to keep the arts alive in Coral Springs," noted Knicely.

Funding Arts Broward, FAB! is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and cultivating the arts in Broward County. Now in its 11th year, the organization was created in response to the need for private financial support to expand on development of arts and culture in Broward County.